Apple iMac G3 (Early 2001) vs Apple iMac G4 (15-inch, USB 2.0)

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iMac G3 (Early 2001) compared with iMac G4 (15-inch, USB 2.0)

	AppleiMac G3 (Early 2001)	AppleiMac G4 (15-inch, USB 2.0)
Overview
Released
Released	February 2001	September 2003
Performance
Processor
Processor	PowerPC G3 400 MHz (iMac), PowerPC G3 500 MHz (iMac) or PowerPC G3 600 MHz (iMac)	Motorola PowerPC G4 1 GHz (iMac USB 2.0)
CPU cores
CPU cores	1	1
Graphics
Graphics	ATI RAGE 128 Pro (8 MB) or ATI RAGE 128 Ultra (16 MB)	NVIDIA GeForce4 MX (32 MB)
Memory
Memory	64 MB, 128 MB or 1 GB	256 MB, 512 MB or 1 GB
Storage
Storage	10 GB to 40 GB	80 GB to 160 GB (better)
CPU
CPU	400 MHz PowerPC G3 with 512 KB backside L2 cache at 160 MHz; 500 MHz and 600 MHz models have 256 KB on-chip L2 cache at processor speed. All use a 100 MHz system bus. Generic clock-only chip records do not infer silicon suppliers; cache differences remain in model details.	1 GHz PowerPC G4 with 167 MHz system bus and 256 KB on-chip L2 cache; a generic maker-clock record avoids inferring a silicon revision.
GPU
GPU	400 MHz configuration: ATI RAGE 128 Pro with 8 MB SDRAM. 500 MHz and 600 MHz configurations: ATI RAGE 128 Ultra with 16 MB SDRAM; AGP 2x. A contemporary Macworld report observed European 500 MHz store listings with 512 KB cache and 8 MB Pro graphics, but explicitly questioned their accuracy and had no Apple confirmation. The current maker matrix is retained; no inferred regional CPU supplier or alternate SKU is added.	NVIDIA GeForce4 MX with 32 MB dedicated DDR video memory and AGP 4x support.
Memory type
Memory type	64 MB PC100 SDRAM standard on 400/500 MHz configurations; 128 MB on 600 MHz Special Edition. Two DIMM slots support up to 1 GB in the current maker sheet. Configurations retain each base and maximum memory with its original processor and drive.	256 MB PC2700 (333 MHz) DDR SDRAM standard; factory options 512 MB or 1 GB. One 184-pin DIMM and one user-accessible SO-DIMM slot.
Storage type
Storage type	400 MHz: 10 GB Ultra ATA and 24x CD-ROM, Indigo. 500 MHz: 20 GB and 8x/4x/24x CD-RW, Indigo, Blue Dalmatian or Flower Power. 600 MHz Special Edition: 40 GB and CD-RW, Graphite, Blue Dalmatian or Flower Power. Maker lists up to 40 GB build-to-order storage without precise processor ties, so extra cross-combinations are not created.	80 GB 7200 rpm Ultra ATA/100 hard drive, configurable to 160 GB; 32x Combo DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive. Published memory and storage factory options are retained for the 1 GHz processor.
Display
Screen size
Screen size	15″	15″
Resolution
Resolution	1024 × 768	1024 × 768
Brightness
Brightness	–	200 nits
Refresh rate
Refresh rate	75 Hz	–
Display type
Display type	Nominal 15-inch shadow-mask CRT with 13.8-inch viewable diagonal and 0.28 mm dot pitch; no fixed LCD native resolution.	TFT active-matrix LCD with millions of colours and typical 300:1 contrast. Exact maker sheet does not publish panel technology or refresh rate.
Display features
Display features	1024 × 768 at 75 Hz; 800 × 600 at 95 Hz and 640 × 480 at 117 Hz. Scalar refresh describes the highest-resolution mode.	Typical viewing angles 120° horizontal and 90° vertical; articulated arm adjusts display height and angle.
Connections
Ports
Ports	2 × USB-A, Ethernet, 2 × headphone jack	3 × USB-A, Ethernet, headphone jack
Ethernet
Ethernet	0.1 Gb/s	0.1 Gb/s
Back ports
Back ports	Two FireWire 400 ports and VGA video mirroring on every configuration; Two 12 Mbps USB ports on the computer, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.90 modem, audio line-in/out and two front headphone jacks; keyboard USB ports are not counted as chassis ports. All configurations are AirPort ready with an optional 11 Mbps card.	Three USB 2.0 ports on the computer, up to 480 Mbps, plus two USB 1.1 ports on the keyboard; two FireWire 400 ports with 8 W shared power, Mini-VGA, 10/100BASE-T Ethernet, 56K V.92 modem, headphone jack, Apple speaker minijack and audio line-in. AirPort Extreme 802.11g card and internal Bluetooth are optional.
External displays
External displays	VGA output mirrors the built-in screen; no extended desktop.	Mini-VGA provides video mirroring on a VGA display or S-video/composite television through optional adapters. Output resolutions: 640 × 480 at 60 Hz, 800 × 600 at 75 Hz or 1024 × 768 at 75 Hz.
Speakers
Speakers	Integrated Odyssey stereo sound system designed with Harman Kardon, built-in microphone and fanless enclosure.	Built-in speaker and microphone, Apple Pro Speakers rated at 7 W each and internal 14 W amplifier.
Keyboard and mouse
Keyboard and mouse	Apple Pro Keyboard and optical Apple Pro Mouse.	Apple Keyboard, Apple Mouse, Apple Pro Speakers and modem cable.
Design and power
Type
Type	All-in-one	All-in-one
Weight
Weight	15.8 kg	9.7 kg (better)
Width × depth × height
Width × depth × height	381 × 435 × 381 mm	–
Operating system
Operating system	macOS	macOS
Size and weight detail
Size and weight detail	Maker publishes height 38.1, width 38.1 and depth 43.5 cm, weight 15.8 kg. EveryMac instead gives depth 43.4 cm and 15.7 kg; current maker figures are preferred.	Maker adjustable ranges: height 329–509 mm, width 384–415 mm and depth 270–415 mm; base diameter 270 mm. Reference weight varies by configuration and manufacturing process.
Power supply
Power supply	100–260 V AC, 47–63 Hz, single phase; maximum continuous power 150 W.	90–264 V AC, 47–63 Hz, single phase; maximum continuous power 130 W.
In the box
In the box	Mac OS 9.1, iTunes, iMovie 2 and Disc Burner; CD-RW configurations write music and data CDs but cannot read DVDs. Maker confirms immediate availability on 22 February 2001. Copied PCI-slot/eMac entries in the retained sheet are excluded as unrelated template artifacts.	Launch Mac OS X 10.2 Jaguar and iLife, with productivity software and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4. The retained sheet lists the later Mac OS X 10.3 Panther bundle. Maker launch confirms immediate availability on 8 September 2003.